ALIAS ? Peter Parker?

2.05 Ruling with an Iron Fist

"Anyway, Mr. Stark, you didn't have to come all the way out here. We had it. We were fine." Peter assured with a gentle shoulder nudge at me. Bunch of b.s., but there was a firm sense of solidarity as to not mention it.

"Oh, I'm not here." The metal carcass of Iron Man opened up to reveal its hollow inners.

"Of course you're not," I muttered under my breath, he was never here. He just paid for some therapy bills and lectures teens. Oh, to be a billionaire.

"Thank god this place has Wifi, or you two would be toast right now." An odd cheering motion and his awkward stance now made sense. "Thank Ganesh while you're at it. Cheers."

"Yippie," I murmured, forgetting the coms were connected.

"Cool the attitude missy, don't even get me started on your shit," He shot then turned to Peter in a more forgiving tone. "Look, forget the flying vulture guy, please."

Peter's face turned the upset red it had when we spoke on the roof this morning. "Why?"

"Why? Because I said so." Tony's tone almost made me laugh, a stereotypical paternal phrase that almost made me want to buy into Peter's plans more. Another sigh came from the suit, and I wondered how well he would be able to see if I flashed a certain gesture. "Just stay close to the ground. Build up your game helping the little people, like that lady that bought you the churro."

"Who the hell is buying you churros?" Brow quirked, I turned to him. He gave a measly embarrassed and still aggravated glance. This is why I didn't speak to anyone besides two people till sophomore year.

"Can't you just be a friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man?" Tony reasoned.

"But I'm ready for more than that."

"No, you're not." The words were firm, and I felt like I was intruding on a private moment.

"That is not what you thought when I took on Captain America," Peter exclaimed, and I winced.

"Trust me, kid, if Cap wanted you lay you out, he would've." Absentmindedly, I rubbed over the scar on my bicep, then dropped my hand as Tony continued, "Listen to me if you come across these weapons again, call Happy." Tony some strange gesture, and the car engine banged through the speaker.

"Are you driving?" Peter asked incredulously.

Tony ignored the question. "You know, it's never too early to start thinking about college. I got some pull at MIT. End call."

"No, I don't need to go to coll—"

"Mr. Stark is no longer connected." The automated suit voice interrupted.

"Shocking," I muttered bitterly now that he couldn't hear.

Peter's phone rang again, and it was loud in the empty park. He answered, and I felt like leaving. "Hey, man, what's up? Listen, I'm going to stop by—"

"Actually, I was calling to say maybe you shouldn't come," Ned spoke over the speakers, we were close enough so I could hear the voice. "Listen to this."

"When I say Penis, you say Parker. Penis." Even from where I was, I could hear the crowd obediently follow the orders. "Sorry, Peter." Ned said, "I guess we're still losers. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Can you get my clothes? They're on the roof." Defeated, Peter sighed. "See you tomorrow at school."

A defeated Peter looked like a wounded puppy, a slightly angry wounded puppy. Mercy pounded into my thoughts, and I crossed my arms. His head barely tilted up as I approached, and I glanced at my shoes. "Come on, I'll buy you a churro."